Impatiens plant named &#39;DHAR353&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Impatiens  cultivar named ‘DHAR353’ is disclosed, characterized by large light purple center and unique pink margin. The new variety has a compact growth habit and good branching. The new variety is an  Impatiens , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Impatiens hawkerii

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DHAR353’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Impatiens cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Impatiens varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during January of 2009.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Impatiens hawkerii ‘NG-8-8743’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Impatiens hawkerii ‘NG-8-8743’. The new variety was discovered in July of 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by leaf cuttings. The cuttings are from an apical bud that has no more than two expanded leaves and three to four immature leaves present. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in August of 2009 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DHAR353’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DHAR353’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DHAR353’ as a new and distinct Impatiens cultivar:

1. The flowers have unique pink margin.

2. Large light purple center.

3. Good branching.

4. Compact growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ are similar to plants of the seed parent; Impatiens hawkeri ‘NG-8-8743’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ produces a wider margin than seed parent. ‘DHAR353’ also has better branching than seed parent. Finally ‘DHAR353’ has a more compact growth form than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent; Impatiens hawkeri ‘NG-8-8743’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ produces larger flowers earlier than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ are comparable to the variety Impatiens ‘DANHAR305’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,306. The two Impatiens varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DHAR353’ differs in having larger light pink center and a pink color margin whereas ‘DANHAR305’ has an orange colored margin and smaller white center.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DHAR353’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Impatiens ‘DANHAMAG’ unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘DHAR353’ has a larger light pink center and grows more vigorously. ‘DHAR353’ produces a pink colored margin whereas ‘DANHAMAG’ produces a salmon colored margin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DHAR353’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DHAR353’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DHAR353’ plants grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 15° C. to 20° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘DHAR353’ -   Propagation: -   Time to initiate roots: Summer: About 7 to 10 days at approximately     25° C. Winter: About 10 to 14 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, adventitious fibrous. -   Plant: -   Age of plant described: Approximately 84 days from a rooted cutting -   Growth habit: Round and compact very good branching -   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm. -   Height: 19 cm. -   Plant spread: 30 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium -   Branching characteristics: Highly branched -   Length of primary lateral branches: 16 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 8-9 -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Oval shape.         -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green 146C RHS.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Strength.—Strong, very stable. -   Internode length: 5.0-5.5 cm. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 15-18 per branch.         -   Average length.—8 cm.         -   Average width.—3.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate to ovate.         -   Apex.—Attenuate.         -   Base.—Acuiminate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Aspect.—45 degrees.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green 137 B RHS Young             foliage under side: Green 138 B RHS Mature foliage upper             side: Green 147 A RHS Mature foliage under side: Green 147 B             RHS.         -   Venation.—Midrib with secondary veins. Pinnate, only lower             surface. Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side:             MidribYellow-Green 147 D RHS Venation color under side:             Midrib Yellow-Green 147 D RHS All lateral venation:             Yellow-Green 147 B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color:             Yellow-Green 147 D RHS Texture: Smooth. -   Flower: -   Natural flowering season: Flowers at any day length. All year round     in a greenhouse environment. Flowering is continuous from spring     until fall in an outdoor garden. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 9-10 Weeks -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single flowers raised above     the foliage. The corolla consists of five petals. -   Rate of flower opening: 10 to 15 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 5-7 Days -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 cm.         -   Color.—Red Purple Group N66C RHS. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—6.0 cm.         -   Depth.—0.2 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Arrangement.—Overlapping.         -   Length.—3. cm.         -   Width.—2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Apex.—Heart Shape.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Margin Purple Red Group             N57A, interior Purple Group 75D When opening, lower surface:             Red-Purple Group 61D RHS Fully opened, upper surface: Margin             Purple Group 76C interior Purple Group N78B RHS Fully             opened, lower surface: Red-Purple Group N57D RHS. -   Spurs:     -   -   Quantity per, flower.—1.         -   Length.—4.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Spur curvature 40°-45° from peduncle.         -   Color.—Towards base: Red-Purple Group N57 D RHS. Apex: Green             Group 143 CRHS. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—2.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.5 cm.         -   Shape (overall).—Oblong. Apex: Acute Base: Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144 C RHS. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—3.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.         -   Strength.—Firm, flexible.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Yellow Green Group 144C RHS.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—There are five stamens with introrse anthers that             are more or less fused and form a cap over the ovary. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—White group 155D RHS.         -   Pollen.—         -   Color.—White group N999D RHS. Quantity: Abundant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.4 cm. Color: Yellow Green group 146C RHS.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round Color: Light Yellow Green 2D RHS Ovary             Color: Yellow-Green group, RHS 144D RHS. -   Other characteristics: -   Seeds and fruits: 10 to 20 minute dust like seeds present. -   Disease/pest resistance: Common to cultivar -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant at 30° C. and tolerant at 10° C.     degrees Celsius (grows best at 18° C.-25° C.) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘DHAR353’ as herein illustrated and described. 